The latest study from the Coyote Radar Observatory in Spain carried out by the company Coyote based on data from the DGT during the months of May 2025 and 2026 shows how Catalonia, despite representing just over 6% of the entire Spanish territory and 16% of the State's total population, is, by far, the autonomous community with the most speed cameras installed and in operation, with a total of 936 cameras out of the 3,621 in operation across Spain, which represents 25.8% of the total. The 936 speed cameras in operation in Catalonia far exceed the 273 cameras currently in service in the Community of Madrid, accounting for 7.53% of the total speed cameras installed in Spain. In fact, the province of Barcelona alone, with 632 speed cameras, more than doubles all the speed cameras installed in the Community of Madrid. The comparison is even more striking if we compare the total number of Catalan cameras (with special incidence in Barcelona and its surroundings) with the 462 cameras installed in Andalusia (a territory that triples the surface area of Catalonia), the 236 cameras in operation in the Valencian Community, or the 257 existing in the Basque Country, among others. A notable increase in the last five years

The study also concludes that the growth rate of new speed cameras has increased by 37% in the last five years, and that in Spanish territory there are currently more than 1,000 new speed cameras compared to 2021. The decision to install speed radars or other types depends on different administrations. The DGT (or the Catalan Traffic Service in the Catalan case) is the one that decides to implement radars on interurban roads and motorways, but it is still relevant that 44% of the radars and traffic light cameras in operation on the Spanish road network are located in urban areas, under the competence and decision of town councils and local entities, with the Barcelona City Council leading the implementation of new radars and traffic cameras in the Catalan capital. In this regard, the study indicates that 70.39% of the new radars have been installed by local administrations.Finally, the study by the Observatory of Speed Cameras in Spain warns about the rapid growth of section control speed cameras, which have increased by 86% in the last five years, and of traffic light cameras and urban traffic cameras, which have increased by 53% between 2021 and May 2026.

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As every year, the month of June marks the start of the hottest weeks, and vehicle air conditioning systems become indispensable elements when traveling by car, especially during the central hours of the day. Curiously, however, the air conditioning system is one of the great unknowns for most car owners in our country, as are the basic functionalities needed to optimize its performance.

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The Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT) has activated the emergency indicators: a total of 21 motorcyclists have died in traffic accidents on Catalan roads between January 1 and May 31, 2026. The worst records achieved in 2019 and 2025 have been matched. Furthermore, the Servei Català de Trànsit warns that between June and September, coinciding with the arrival of heat and good weather, the figures for fatal accidents in Catalonia traditionally increase even further. In fact, the figures confirm this trend, as 7 of the 21 motorcyclists killed suffered accidents during the month of May.Although motorcyclists are not the most numerous group on Catalan roads, this year they already account for 40% of traffic fatalities during the first five months of the year, which has led the administration to design a special prevention and road safety training plan within the framework of the campaign "To avoid accidents, anticipate yourself". This campaign will place special emphasis on raising awareness and responsibility among motorcyclists, but it will also be accompanied by increased surveillance on roads with aerial means (drones and helicopters) and the new undercover motorcycles of the Mossos d’Esquadra. This is because police forces point out that reckless driving (overtaking in prohibited areas, zigzagging, changing direction…) is the main cause of mortality and accidents on Catalan roads.The X-ray of motorcycle accidents

The SCT data also show some interesting points, such as the fact that the majority of fatal accidents occur on motorways and dual carriageways (with the AP-7 as the main affected route), and that most accidents are of the single-rider fall type (falls or leaving the road). Furthermore, most accidents occur in the afternoon and evening, and by age and sex, the profile of the motorcyclist involved in an accident is a man over 45 years old. Although there is no single factor that explains solo falls or leaving the track by motorcyclists, it is significant that the majority of motorcycle accidents take place in an area considered safer than mountain road sections, which can be partly explained by the lack of respect and attention from drivers of four or more wheeled vehicles (cars, vans or trucks) towards motorcyclists when changing lanes or performing maneuvers that can cause falls or departures from the asphalt in an attempt to avoid a collision.Finally, the SCT has also launched a campaign to signpost the route of dangerous curves on the N-260 at Collada de Toses and on the B-124 between Sant Llorenç Savall and Calders, two of the black spots for road accidents in Catalonia traditionally associated with motorcyclist routes in our territory.

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Accidents involving animals are a real problem in Catalonia, with a particular impact in the province of Barcelona, according to a study by the Ponle Freno opinion studies center and the AXA Foundation Catalonia ranks second nationally for accidents caused by collisions with wild animals. In fact, three of the four Catalan provinces (Barcelona, Lleida, and Girona) are among the top ten provinces with the highest accident rates caused by animal collisions, with Barcelona leading the ranking after registering a 50% increase in animal accidents in the province throughout 2025. Lleida drops to fourth position in the ranking, with a 3.5% decrease compared to the previous year, but Girona records a 20.7% increase in animal accidents, which moves it up to eighth position in the ranking. The rest of the black spots for hunting-related accidents are mainly located in Galicia (Ourense, Pontevedra, and A Coruña) and other points in the northern Iberian Peninsula, such as Asturias, León, Burgos, and Huesca.Wild boars in autumn, the most critical moment of the year

67% of accidents involving a collision with an animal in Catalonia during 2025 were related to wild boars, far behind roe deer (13%) and other animals, such as unleashed dogs or deer, among others. The mortality rate in accidents recorded with wild animals is particularly worrying in Barcelona and Lleida, as 15% of the accidents recorded in the province of Barcelona and 11% of those in Lleida resulted in fatalities. The presence of wild boars has definitely become a real problem that not only affects epidemics and diseases like swine fever, but also causes a road safety problem and an unacceptable death toll for the different administrations.The study also concludes that the moments of highest incidence and risk of collision with wild animals in Catalonia are weekends – especially Sunday evenings and early Monday mornings – and the months of October and November. Prevention tips

It should be said that it is indeed complicated to avoid collisions with wild animals when they invade the road, but we remind you of some concrete and simple measures that can help you minimize the damage from these collisions, or even avoid them.First and foremost, anticipation is key to being able to foresee these accidents, paying attention to the sections signposted for the alert of animal presence, and generally when driving – especially at dusk and at night – on local or regional roads in rural areas, adapting speed and paying special attention to the presence of elements on the roadside. The most critical times are early evening and early morning, and if you spot a wild animal, it is advisable to honk the horn to scare it away and clear the road.Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary to maintain the vehicle's lighting system in good condition (cleaning of headlights and condition of bulbs) and the windshield to have optimal visibility during dark hours and to adjust speed to have more reaction time. Finally, it is important to avoid sudden steering movements; if we are driving, it may be preferable to brake sharply and hit an animal head-on than to go off the road or invade the oncoming lane and collide with another vehicle.If despite everything we have an accident, it is necessary to immediately call the emergency number 112 and signal the area to avoid new impacts with other vehicles, using the mandatory visibility systems. However, it is advisable not to get too close to a wild boar after a collision, especially if the animal is still alive and badly injured, as it can be dangerous for humans.

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The future and the technification of road safety are advancing by leaps and bounds thanks to the technological possibilities offered by AI and the will of the different administrations, such as the Pamplona City Council, the first in the State to purchase four units of the new AI radar capable of detecting up to eight different infractions simultaneously.The super radar, which the Navarrese capital is premiering this June, has a high-quality color camera and a license plate identification and reading system that allows it to process and identify vehicles at different distances, traffic directions, and in various lanes. In fact, these new devices are more reminiscent of a traffic camera – in fact, they are – than a conventional speed radar.

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Taking a car for its ITV (vehicle inspection) is a routine that practically all vehicle owners must undergo sooner or later during the lifespan of their car or motorcycle. At ITVs, different aspects are evaluated to assess the real condition of a vehicle, in accordance with parameters set by European regulations, and the sticker that guarantees successful completion of this test is homologable across the 27 EU member states.The last major modification to ITV regulations was in 2014, despite the fact that the automotive world has changed considerably in the last twelve years. In this regard, the Council of the European Union is working this week to approve a package of modifications to the technical section that regulates pollutant gas emissions, noise pollution levels, the condition of safety and driving assistance systems (ADAS), and the condition of electric vehicle batteries, among others.Regarding the new system for measuring and detecting pollutant emissions, it is worth noting that the new protocol foresees more sensitive methods for detecting nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels and particles emitted by the exhaust pipe, and will allow for a more accurate assessment of the condition of the particle filter and the pollutant gas elimination systems of modern combustion cars, both diesel and gasoline. The new text also includes an optional remote sensing test that will allow for remote measurement of particle, gas, and sound emissions from the vehicle while it is in operation on public roads. However, this remote sensing possibility is still subject to the verdict of the EU Transport Commission.The rest of the novelties that the Council of the EU text wishes to include affect the revision of ADAS or assistance systems, formed by the set of sensors, radars, and cameras that modern cars have, but also by driving assistance systems such as lane keeping assist, recognition of involuntary lane change alerts, or cruise control, among others. Finally, the new protocol also aims to regulate the method for reviewing the condition of lithium batteries in electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, to ensure their good condition and the safety of occupants and other road users.A new European visa

The text proposed by the Council of the EU includes for the first time the possibility of carrying out the ITV inspection in a EU country different from the country of origin. In a system where tests are homologated among all states, it makes sense that homologation certificates can be issued in countries other than the vehicle's country of origin, albeit with a temporary duration of six months, before the vehicle must undergo the definitive inspection at a station in its country of origin. The other front that the text proposal, which will be approved this week, seeks to regulate is the manipulation of odometers, through the creation of a database where workshops must record the kilometers traveled in each inspection to minimize the possibilities of fraud.Finally, it is worth noting that the modifications proposed by the Council of the European Union do not affect the periodicity of the inspection schedule, which will maintain the current intervals: four years for the first inspection from the registration of a new car or motorcycle, every two years from the fourth year, and in the case of cars, annually from ten years of the vehicle's age.  

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Catalonia is an increasingly aging country. According to Idescat data, as of 2026, 20% of the Catalan population is over 65 years old, a figure that is surprising when compared to the 14% of the total that represents the school-age population. Catalans are living longer and better, as is also happening in the rest of Spain and Mediterranean countries, such as Greece, Italy, or Croatia, among others. In this regard, Idescat's projections for the year 2070 are devastating: if we continue with the current trend, Catalonia will reach the final stretch of the century with a population of about 9 million people, a third of whom will be over 65 years old.Aging and super-aging (i.e., the rate of people over 80 years old in a society) will modify the uses and services of Catalan society, with a logical increase in social and health services and medication expenses. Living longer and in better physical shape will also raise the average age of drivers on Catalan roads. Currently, there is no age limit to get behind the wheel, as current regulations establish that the physical condition and cognitive abilities of drivers are the determining factors for whether a person is fit to continue driving.Until this 2026, the DGT used to renew driving licenses for 10 years for people turning 65, but with the modification of the regulations that came into effect this year, people born between 1956 and 1961 who renew their driving license will have the validity of licenses AM, A1, A2, A, and B limited to a duration of 5 years, while those who renew professional driving licenses C, C1, D, D1, EC, ED, or ED1 will have their renewal limited to only 3 years of validity. With this reform, the DGT aims to detect timely processes of auditory or visual deterioration, as well as reflexes and cognitive capacity. At this point, it is worth remembering that most medical studies suggest that between 65 and 75 years old, there is an accelerated aging process that can lead to modifications in visual or auditory acuity within a few years, which justifies the regulatory reform promoted by the DGT.As for those over 70 years old, the regulations exempt them from paying renewal fees for their driving license, but they will have to pay the cost of the mandatory medical examination, which must determine if a person is capable of continuing to drive, regardless of their age. It is worth remembering that from the age of 70, the validity of the driving license is only 2 years, to ensure proper monitoring of the physical and cognitive abilities of people who wish to renew their license. 

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The number of deaths from being run over on Spanish roads during Easter has been the highest in the last ten years, despite the entry into force of the mandatory V-16 luminous signaling system. In fact, the obligation to acquire this luminous warning system for emergencies or breakdowns connected to the DGT, which shows the location of cars with incidents in real time, was based on a supposed improvement in safety for vehicle occupants in these situations, but the first major travel campaign of the year, coinciding with the Easter holidays, has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of this system in combating being run over and associated mortality.From AUGC (Unified Association of the Civil Guard), the majority association of agents of la Benemérita, they point directly to the ineffectiveness of these devices and state that "false expectations" had been created around the implementation of the luminous and geolocated V-16 signal. Carlos Cantero, head of the traffic area of this association of civil guards, assures that the death data reveal that this system has proven to be "ineffective" in reducing the mortality figures due to being run over. It is still relevant that this luminous warning system was patented by two former Civil Guard officers and that a business of more than 1,200 million euros was generated. For this reason, Facua denounced the DGT for promoting a massive fraud with the obligation of this device. To conclude, the head of traffic of the AUGC denounces that the DGT “has not listened to the opinion of the agents who are on the street” and that “prevention must be improved” to reduce the unacceptable increase in mortality associated with the new V-16 device.

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Putting snow chains on our vehicle is one of the most feared and respected tasks for Catalan drivers. However, knowing how to put them on correctly is absolutely essential if we want to drive safely in the country during the summer months. coldest months of winter, when sub-zero temperatures are frequent on thermometers across much of the country.

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Families with three or more children are increasingly rare in Catalan society. According to figures from Idescat, only 5% of Catalan families (single-parent or two-parent) have three or more children, a trend that is steadily declining and shows no signs of slowing down, especially considering that this year Catalonia broke its record for lowest birth rate, with a rate of just 1.08 children per woman. This is not unique to Catalonia, as the Spanish and European trends are moving in the same direction as in Catalan society, with families overwhelmingly consisting of one or two children and the age of first-time motherhood rising.

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Just a few days ago, a listener of the program The world on RAC1 turned on the alarm lights during an interview with the deputy director of the DGTAna Blanco warned that the use of the new V-16 beacons could seriously affect the health of people with heart problems who use a pacemaker or defibrillator.

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The mandatory implementation of the V-16 lighting system is shaping up to be one of the biggest blunders by the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) and the Ministry of the Interior in recent years. After accumulatingcriticism from consumer associationsIn addition to concerns from emergency personnel and other groups about the new mandatory lighting system in case of accident or breakdown, there is now a new announcement from the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) that it is withdrawing official approval from four models of connected V-16 beacons that until recently appeared on all official lists.

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Former Galician Civil Guard officers Jorge Torre and Jorge Juan Costas are the creators of the controversial V-16 emergency light, a safety system that will replace the current emergency triangles and will be mandatory from January 1st. Both men left the Civil Guard to pursue various business ventures, including the creation of an emergency light that mimics the lights of police or ambulance vehicles. The goal was for it to be stored in the car's glove compartment, eliminating the need to leave the vehicle in case of a breakdown and reducing the danger of having to walk along the shoulder of the road when emergency triangles are deployed.

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The introduction of the new V-16 traffic lights on January 1, 2026 has generated great unease and concern among Spanish buyers, the first in the world who will have to use this new signaling and location system on an experimental basis.

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The mandatory use of the new V-16 emergency beacon, approved by the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic), starting January 1st, has raised more questions than answers among drivers. The fact that it is an unfamiliar system, never before implemented in any European country, the existence of other similar but not properly approved emergency lights, and the implementation schedule, which does not include any transition period, have generated confusion and discontent among Spanish drivers. The DGT's aim with this new system is to increase driver safety in the event of an accident or traffic incident. The V-16 emergency beacon will replace the current warning triangles using a new automatic connection system that alerts the competent authority of its exact location via a digital platform called DGT 3.0 using a SIM card. The rationale for this new system is to avoid requiring drivers to leave their vehicles when they are immobilized due to a breakdown, for example, and to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents. The lamp should be stored—and fully charged—in the car's glove compartment so it can be accessed without leaving the vehicle. In case of a breakdown or accident, it should be switched on and placed on the roof of the vehicle.

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The annual report from the AEA (European Automobile Association) has identified the most dangerous stretches of road in Spain, based on data from the five-year period 2019-2023. These stretches are at least ten times higher than the average danger index (IPM). According to the report, the human factor remains crucial, but the state of infrastructure maintenance cannot be underestimated. The report also calls on government authorities to implement the necessary measures for the proper maintenance of the most dangerous sections of road.

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Mobile phone use while driving is one of the major areas for improvement on the Catalan road network. According to data from the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT), 22% of fatal road accidents were related to improper mobile phone use, consolidating mobile phone use as the second most common factor in accidents, surpassed only by traffic violations.

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This Thursday, October 1, 2025, several changes to the driving test came into effect. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has decided to remodel and reformulate the theoretical section to raise its level of rigor, adapt it to new technologies, and assess the degree of perception and reaction speed of the examinees. From now on, candidates will encounter new tests in audiovisual format—videos of real traffic situations—and the definitive incorporation of the new traffic signs Approved just before summer. With these modifications, the DGT hopes to achieve improvements in the fight against road accidents and driving safety.

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During the last ten years there have been about 124,000 accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians in which more than 130,000 pedestrians have suffered injuries in Spain, according to the study by the Línea Directa Foundation and Fesvial entitled Walking safely: Pedestrian accidents and risks in Spain (2014-2023))17,000 of the affected pedestrians have had to be hospitalized, and 3,500 have died as a result of the accident, explains the report, based on data from the DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic), the National Institute of Toxicology, and responses to a survey of more than 1,700 pedestrians. This study also identifies the most dangerous street in Spain for pedestrians, where they are most at risk of being hit by a car. It is located in Barcelona: Gran Via, essential for mobility in the city center.

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Tesla is facing a new problem in the United States after the US safety agency (NHTSA) notified the brand of the opening of an investigation into serious defects affecting the rear door opening system of the Model Y, the best-selling car from Elon Musk's brand. The NHTSA's safety office has launched the investigation after receiving nine complaints from drivers who were unable to open the doors to remove children from the back seats, and who had to break the window to access the interior of the car and free them.

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